PONTIAC, Mich. (FOX 2) - James and Jennifer Crumbley's trial is set and their son has pled guilty - but the parents of the convicted mass shooter still have more hearings in court before they will be tried for involuntary manslaughter.
The parents of the 16-year-old mass shooter were in court Friday for a hearing on whether the Oakland County prosecutor can call witnesses experts to testify about mass shooters and the path to violence that many take before they start shooting.
In trying both Crumbley parents, prosecutors want to connect the inaction of James and Jennifer to their son's decision to bring a gun to school. Both defendants have fought the charges and asked for them to be thrown out, arguing they couldn't have known what their son was planning.
This browser does not support the Video element.
More evidence expected in next Ethan Crumbley hearing after guilty plea in Oxford shooting
The Oxford superintendent released a statement saying he hopes today's hearing a step towards healing for the community.
But during Ethan Crumbley's guilty plea hearing this Monday, the teen said he asked his dad to buy him a gun, gave his dad the money to buy the gun, and going so far as to pick it out.
Ethan also admitted the gun was not secured when he took it to school.
"Yes, it was not locked," he said on Oct. 24 after Assistant Prosecutor Marc Keast asked him if it was true the 9mm handgun was "not kept in a safe or locked container?"
Ethan's guilty plea on terrorism charge gives all 1,800 Oxford High School victims chance to address shooter
On Monday, the Oxford High School shooter pleaded guilty to all charges, one of which will open the for upwards of 1,800 victims getting the chance to explain how their lives have been changed.
The prosecution wants to use testimony that argues that Ethan's pathway to violence followed multiple stages, instead of the teen snapping and committing mass murder. The defense is fighting the allowance of that expert testimony.
More Oxford High School shooting news:
- Crumbley parents trial set for January as Ethan pleads guilty
- Phone records show Jennifer ignored texts from Ethan about demons
- Ethan Crumbley says he gave James Crumbley money to buy gun used in Oxford High School shooting